Dear JCOGS family,
As you likely now know, another horrific event occurred this weekend as a lone gunman opened fire outside of a grocery store in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 and injuring 3 people. His motivations grew out of racist and antisemitic hate. He chose the location because he believed a high percentage of Black people live there.
Markings on the perpetrator’s gun were white supremacist in nature, including a reference to the slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” In a manifesto he wrote, he called for a war against Jews: “But by their Jewish ways, they turn us against each other. When you realize this you will know that the Jews are the biggest problem the Western world has ever had. They must be called out and killed, if they are lucky they will be exiled.”
Once again, we send our prayers to the families of the bereaved, who died tragically and too soon.
Once again, we send our prayers to those who were injured and in need of healing.
Once again, we must stay vigilant in the face of extremists of all kinds, staying watchful and aware.
Since the incident, I have been receiving regular reports from the ADL, one of the foremost organizations fighting antisemitism, hate, racism, and bigotry of all kinds. I have found these emails to be comforting knowing that there are organizations doing ongoing work to uproot hate from our society.
The ADL has joined other leading social justice organizations in calling for President Biden to convene a summit on hate and extremism and to develop a plan to combat hate crimes, white supremacy, and violent extremism.
You can add your voice
HERE to this ADL call and also join their newsletter to learn more about their work.
Tihiyu bri’im, may we all be safe and secure.
Rabbi David
